<p>novaparent, UVa is a great school but why you keep exalting it beyond other great possibilities is beyond me(and keep bringing it into everything here). Frankly, it’s embarassing.My son certainly enjoyed his time at UVa and got a great education there. And,yes, my VT son may have gone to UVa had he applied(which he didn’t) and gotten in but is quite happy at VT(and VT is a better fit for him than UVa would have been) . He has an almost 3.9 GPA at Virginia Tech in engineering (which as you are probably well aware is VT’s strong suit) and had no desire to try to transfer to UVa when I brought up the possibility to him. It is laughable (to use your word) that you seem to think that anyone in their right mind would want to go to to UVa if given the chance. And by the way, since my SIL was not a Virginia resident, UVa was certainly never on her radar. Her other schools she applied to were Bucknell and Lehigh, if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>Well, I realized, novaparent, that SIL may mean son in law since you said “he”. I meant my sister in law went to Allegheny so sorry about that. And, by the way, my lowly Virginia Tech kid had higher SAT’s than BOTH your UVa kids. :)</p>
<p>Where is the data that says, after controlling for quality of input, UVA increases critical thinking skills to a higher level, than say Truman State or a CTCl school?</p>
<p>sevmom-</p>
<p>Of course I recognize that U-Va isn’t god’s gift to colleges. I’m using U-Va merely to illustrate my point. I do have to say, though, that your report that your son “had no desire to try to transfer to UVa when I brought up the possibility to him” speaks volumes. Why in the world would you even suggest that a “happy” 3.9 engineering student at Tech even consider transferring to U-Va? Let me take a guess . . . it appears that you, and not I, consider Tech to be “lowly.” And you’re going to start comparing SAT scores? Really? Both of my U-Va kids got into both U-Va and Tech, and I would have been fine with them attending either. Can you say the same thing? You still sound awfully disappointed to me. </p>
<p>tk-</p>
<p>You asked “why do you think I’m intent on drawing conclusions concerning UVa in particular?” Because when you tried to use Big Ten data to talk about U-Va I told you it was apples and oranges because U-Va was much smaller – and you responded by looking at a random selection of smaller state schools. Pretty obvious.</p>
<p>Blindluck-</p>
<p>Picking Centre over U-Va for the same price would have been irrational. But whatever. You’re talking in theoreticals. The reality is that merit money played a significant role in your selection of Center College.</p>
<p>vonlost-</p>
<p>We’ve been over your PhD list already. It says nothing about where the graduates actually attend graduate school for their PhDs. It also doesn’t account for the fact that many students at larger universities are, by choice, not liberal arts or science majors – or even in arts and sciences divisions in their universities – and have no interest in pursuing a PhD. Thus, the numbers paint, at best, a partial and skewed comparative portrait. </p>
<p>I’d suggest that anyone considering your list consider it in conjunction with, for example, the Wall Street Journal’s list of the top 50 “feeder” colleges to the most prestigious law, MBA, and medical schools. The WSJ list was based on the percentage of graduates enrolled in 15 top graduate programs (as opposed to just any graduate program). With very few exceptions, the list consists of the same schools as those topping traditional rankings lists: the Ivy League, other top private universities, Michigan, U-Va, UC-Berkeley, and the top LACs. CTCL enthusiasts will note that the list does include Reed (at #50), but I think we can all agree that Reed has the best reputation of any CTCL, as well as New College of Florida – but only because the school is so small that enrolling a mere 3 graduates in these top programs (fewer than any other school on the list, with Reed coming in at #49) made it eligible for inclusion. In contrast, U-Va enrolled 82 of its graduates in these top programs, and Williams (the top ranked LAC on the list) enrolled 47. </p>
<p>There’s a statistic for everything. </p>
<p>Here’s the link: <a href=“http://www.inpathways.net/top50feeder.pdf[/url]”>http://www.inpathways.net/top50feeder.pdf</a></p>
<p>novaparent, I will clarify, then, about VT son. I brought up the possibility of transfer to him only once, after his first semester when it was clear he had done very well with his grades. Primarily because we were used to UVa and it is much closer to our home. My husband and I have noted to each other more than once that we are so happy he has stayed at Virginia Tech. As you know, UVa and VT have very different social atmospheres. UVa fit my older kid perfectly-preppy,fratty, somewhat status concious. He still goes to Foxfield races with all his UVa buddies 3 years after graduation! Younger son is much more laid back and down to earth. Virginia Tech is the perfect place for him and we are very happy he is there. Go Hokies!</p>
<p>I am the mother of a daughter who will attend Allegheny next year. We are all very excited and happy with her decision. I started reading this thread to hear people’s stories and impressions of their experiences. I have to say it derailed about 1/3 of the way through. Obviously, novaparent had a different opinion regarding these schools. Who cares? While I’m not sure why he/she has invested so much energy in multiple posts, why have others continued to respond? I would love to get back to the original concept of the thread. I don’t think that anybody who feels positively about these schools and their choice owes novaparent an explanation, nor do we need to convince him/her that our choice is better. I would love it if we could get back to the original concept of the post!</p>
<p>icebat, Congratulations to your daughter on her choice of Allegheny. My sister in law loved Allegheny and still keeps in close touch with many of her friends from there over 30 years after graduation. She has been successful in her professional and personal life and most of her close friends seem to have done well also. All the best for a great 4 years at Allegheny!</p>
<p>Please keep the talk down about Centre and how they have such a positive impact on critical thinking and writing. My S will possible be applying in the Fall and he needs the merit aid to make it affordable. Fewer applicants might help.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your assistance (all except one).</p>
<p>sevmom-</p>
<p>That’s fine, but when you say “UVa fit my older kid perfectly-preppy,fratty, somewhat status con[s]cious” I assume you mean your son and not U-Va. Because, I can assure you, my U-Va students are not and never have been any of those things, and neither are many of the other students at U-Va.</p>
<p>As for the other posters, I’m not trying to bring anyone around to my point of view. I’m just sharing information and opinions like everyone else. I do think, for example, that too much is being made of the PhD lists.</p>
<p>Haystack, your son will be fine wherever I’m sure. Truly.</p>
<p>I’ll tell you what, all, I’ll agree with icebat and will move on. No more comments from me from here on forward. Note, though, that all I’ve done is answer questions/comments directed at me, and I’ve never once been rude, insensitive, or personally insulting (unlike several of the CTCL fans who disagree with my point of view). I truly didn’t know that the exclusive province of this thread was for CTLC cheerleaders. No need to be so thin skinned. </p>
<p>Good luck to all of you. See you on another thread.</p>
<p>About Centre…</p>
<p>Could someone describe the dribnking culture there? It is rural and has frats, both of which can potentially lead to a larger drinking culture.</p>
<p>Thank you icebat!! My thoughts exactly! And @3boys, thank you for posting the link to the CTCL events. I did know about them, but unfortunately we cannot attend the one closest to us. We will plan some visits this summer/fall…For the time being I personally am interested in hearing more opinions about some of the CTCL schools (Rhodes, Centre, Birmingham-Southern).</p>
<p>“Thus, the numbers paint, at best, a partial and skewed comparative portrait.”</p>
<p>If someone wants to treat it as a ranking instead of a list, then separating into large and small schools might be useful. Then if you want a large (or small) school, is yours there yet?</p>
<p>“There’s a statistic for everything.”</p>
<p>This one is for identifying schools with a history of good bio PhD prep, as an example of how a list (or a book or any other tool) can help a HS student find candidate schools.</p>
<p>Blindluck- After your first post I told my son that he should put Centre College on his list of schools to begin researching after APs and finals, and he asked me where Kentucky was. I guess his 3rd grade geography didn’t sink in. :)</p>
<p>Thank you,novaparent. You are certainly right that not everyone at UVa is preppy. There is though a much larger contingent of that kind of student than you would find in general at Virginia Tech. That is all I meant so am glad to clarify that.
There are many great CTCL schools out there so look forward to hearing about some of the others.</p>
<p>Hope College was a great place for my D. Many opportunities while there and nice results after graduation (she is in Teach For America). Never would havbe known about Hope or the other schools she applied to without CTCL.</p>
<p>Hope doesn’t get much play on CC but it is a fine school.</p>
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<p>I’m sure you do. UVA isn’t on any of them. :)</p>
<p>[America’s</a> Top Colleges - Forbes](<a href=“http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelnoer/2011/08/03/americas-top-colleges/]America’s”>America's Top Colleges)</p>
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<p>FYI: I counted 13 CTCL schools in Forbes Top 100</p>
<p>LasMa-</p>
<p>You just can’t help yourself, huh? No reason to be so defensive about your college choices. It’s ok. Really.</p>
<p>Well, As a fellow UVa parent, novaparent anf I have disagreed some on this thread but I do have to say that novaparent may have moved on (and agreed to do so)if the focus had truly moved on . Comparing CTCL, Ivy League schools, LAC’s, top publics, top research universities is always going to create differences. Most parents know what will work best for our kids and hopefully that 's where the kids end up-whether a big rah rah school (both my boys-that was their cup of tea), LAC, CTCL school,etc. It’s all good. Hopefully the focus here can get back to the CTCL’s schools so that those kids and parents considering them can share some insight with each other about the schools. All the best.</p>
<p>Rhumbob- I would love to hear more about Hope College. That is a school I’d like to at least look into for my D. I’m pretty sure they would fly her up there as a senior to take a peek. Thanks for whatever info you can provide about your D’s time there.</p>